White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted that migrants are not just “walking” across the border during a briefing Monday.
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Jean-Pierre about the White House’s policy on unvaccinated travelers coming into the country.
He noted that unvaccinated migrants continue to arrive in the U.S. but tennis star Novak Djokovic couldn’t compete in the U.S. Open.
Jean-Pierre said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention make the decisions about protocols for those entering the country.
“They’re two different things,” she added.
“But so how is it two different things? Somebody unvaccinated comes over on a plane. You say that’s not OK. Somebody walks into Texas or Arizona unvaccinated, they’re allowed to stay? Why?” Doocy asked.
“But that’s not how it works,” the press secretary said.
That’s what’s happening,” Doocy responded. “I know that’s not what you guys want to happen. But that is what is happening.”
“But it’s not like somebody walks over and, that’s not how—,” Jean-Pierre began.
Doocy interjected “That’s exactly what’s happening!”
“Thousands of people are walking in a day. Some of them turn themselves over, some of them are caught, tens of thousands a week are not. That is what is happening,” he added.
The press secretary then touted a number of initiatives that the Biden administration has started, including working with Mexico and Guatemala to catch human traffickers and securing more funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
She also criticized the Trump administration’s plan to construct a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border.
“By contrast, or to the prior administration, ?i?mmigration strategy was to build a wall and they couldn’t even come accomplish that in the four years? … which is also a policy that just does not work?,” she said.
“It’s not that simple. It’s not like people are just walking across the border,” Jean-Pierre continued.
Doocy and Jean-Pierre briefly discussed Title 42, which allows the administration to refuse entry ?to asylum seekers to prevent spreading COVID-19.
“Title 42 is very much in place and that is the process. So there is a CDC provision for folks coming through the southern border, it is not just for ?tennis players,” Jean-Pierre said.
Djokovic announced last week that he would withdraw from the U.S. Open because he decided not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.